The setting for this latest adaptation of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," a 1931 novella by cosmic-horror author H.P. Lovecraft, has been moved from New England to fictional Rivermouth, Oregon -- it's filmed in Astoria (check out the trailer below) -- and the plot's been given a twist: The main character, Russ (Jason Cottle), is gay.

Against a backdrop of impending world chaos, a family death causes Russ to reluctantly return to the small town he hates and to his dad, a wild-eyed, homophobic, purple-robed worshipper of the fish god Cthulhu. Weird, creepy things start to happen, and Russ becomes unhinged as he tries to make sense of it all. Unbeknownst to him, Russ figures into a terrifying prophecy as beings answering Cthulhu's call prepare to emerge from the ocean to rule Earth.

While "Cthulhu" has a few unsettling moments and the refashioning of "Innsmouth" as an allegory for small-town gay life is interesting, the movie as a whole seems destined to appeal mainly to Lovecraft enthusiasts. It's also plagued by hammy acting, particularly by Cottle, whose numerous angry outbursts are liable to cause indifference to his character's fate. Tori Spelling, unconvincing as an Oregon coast native, plays a female rapist (no joke) in an unintentionally hilarious subplot.